Immersed in Fear and Doubt: Mothers' Experiences of Caring Transition for Children With Cancer-A Qualitative Study

This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences and perceptions of mothers of children with leukaemia regarding the transition of care from hospital to home.

A qualitative content analysis with a conventional approach was employed, and this report follows the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist.

Thirteen mothers of children with leukaemia were recruited using purposive sampling from two Iranian paediatric hospitals. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted between 2023 and 2024 and analysed using conventional qualitative content analysis.

Drowning in the Vortex of Fear and Doubt emerged as the central theme, encapsulating the shared experiences of mothers of children with leukaemia. This overarching theme comprised five categories: (1) Fear of Unpredictable and Life-Threatening Complications, (2) Paradoxical Concerns About Discharge, (3) Doubts and Hopelessness About Treatment Effectiveness, (4) Stress Regarding the Child's Future Life Trajectory and (5) Sense of Helplessness in Alleviating the Child's Suffering.

The findings underscore the need to provide comprehensive supportive services for parents of children with leukaemia. Policymakers and healthcare teams should prioritise initiatives that enhance parental awareness, deliver psychosocial support and empower families to navigate the arduous path of care and treatment with greater trust and confidence.

Ensuring the well-being and comfort of both the child with cancer and the parents throughout the treatment process is essential for improving care outcomes.

The study is reported according to the COREQ.

Mothers of children with leukaemia participated as interviewees and contributed to ensuring the rigour of the study through data validation.